POLICE REPORT ON OFFICER’S ACCIDENT DELAYED

DUI suspected in early-morning crash into AT&T utility box

The crash of an 11-year police veteran’s vehicle into a utility box in Allied Gardens last month was not reported through the San Diego Police Department’s usual dispatch system until more than an hour after it happened.

The department initially said the crash, now being reviewed for drunken-driving charges, was reported at 2:05 a.m. on Dec. 7.

The Watchdog has obtained security video showing it happened at 12:56 a.m.

The grainy black-and-white footage shows a pair of oncoming headlights spinning wildly out of control, more than a full circle. The car slides to a stop, and someone climbs out to survey the wreckage. Police personnel show up within minutes, although not dispatched through the usual channels.

When asked about the video, spokeswoman Lt. Andra Brown said her earlier statement about a 2:05 a.m. accident report was based on the computer-aided dispatch system used under normal circumstances.

“I advised you that the collision was reported on the CAD at 0205 hours,” she said. “That is true. I have since learned that the collision occurred earlier. After the collision, the detective notified the department through his chain of command. I provided you the best information that I had available to me at the time of your inquiry.”

She said that when such incidents happen, the department has to conduct two complex investigations at once — one internal, and one criminal.

“Because he was suspected of driving under the influence, Internal Affairs personnel were called to the scene, as well the Traffic Division investigators,” Brown said. “When one of our officers is suspected of committing a crime, we not only deal with the criminal aspect but the administrative aspect.”

The department has not identified the detective, who was off duty, pending the investigation. His unmarked police car crashed into a utility box along Princess View Drive at Laura Street.

The gang unit detective was transported and admitted to a hospital. Then he was sent home without being arrested. Several days later, when he was able to return to work, he was placed on desk duty.

More than three weeks after the crash, the detective has yet to face any criminal charges. Police officials say the detective is getting no favorable treatment.

“He was treated as any other injured sole occupant in a solo vehicle collision involving a suspected driver under the influence,” Brown said. “Any extra or ‘special’ treatment he received was not to shield him from the consequences of his actions but rather to ensure that he would be treated fairly and held accountable for his actions.”

The case was referred to the City Attorney’s Office for possible charges on Dec. 13, the same day The Watchdog first asked about and reported the accident.

City prosecutors, who are only able to file misdemeanor criminal charges, say they have not decided whether to proceed with a case.

Brown said that because the driver was the only one injured in the accident, the case was properly referred to the city attorney and not the district attorney, who is in charge of felony prosecutions.

John Britton of AT&T, the company that owns the utility box, said the damage resulting from the collision was considerable.

“There were six copper cables affected, along with a fiber optic cable that required replacing,” he said. “I don’t know how many customers were affected, but AT&T had most service restored that night and all service restored the next day.”

Britton said company officials have not calculated the repair costs or decided whether to pursue recovery of those costs from the city.

“It’s too early to speculate about possible claims,” he said.

Two police sources told The Watchdog that early damage estimates were $500,000 — not including the vehicle, which is unlikely to be returned to service. They did not want to be named for fear of retribution at work.

San Diego is self-insured, so the cost of damages paid to AT&T would be borne by taxpayers.

Brown said the damaged patrol car was scheduled to be replaced during fiscal 2013, which begins in July. The car’s estimated value was $2,975, money that “is lost to the city,” she said.

The police spokeswoman said it was up to the utility to seek reimbursement from the city for damages resulting from the crash. “If AT&T is seeking some sort of civil remedy against the city, we will not be able to make any comment on it,” Brown said.

It is not clear whether the city will try to recover its costs from the driver — something it routinely pursues when civilians are responsible for damage to public property.

“Each case is examined on an individual basis as to whether or not to seek reimbursement,” Brown said. “Cost recovery will be evaluated by the city Risk Management Department, and depending on the outcome of the investigation and causes, some or full cost recovery may be available.”

Rank-and-file officers within the San Diego Police Department complain that top officials sometimes provide special treatment to certain employees and their families.

The suspected DUI crash, for example, was only acknowledged by the department after The Watchdog learned about it privately and confronted the chain of command.

In August, a police captain’s son was not arrested after he was accused of grabbing one woman, smashing another woman in the face and then breaking a car window as the women tried to leave a Pacific Beach restaurant.

Instead, 23-year-old Alex Guaderrama was driven without handcuffs in the front seat of a police cruiser to La Mesa, where he was handed over to his mother.

Department officials insisted that incident was handled routinely.

Days after The Watchdog report, the City Attorney’s Office filed seven criminal charges against Guaderrama. He is due back in court next Tuesday.